A fantastic clash between two Americans, Christina McHale had a hard task as she had to face the world number one, Serena Williams, in the second round of Wimbledon. It was an intense battle, where Williams did not play her best tennis. McHale was a break up in the third set, but Williams broke right away and then broke again at the perfect moment. The six-time Wimbledon champion defeated her fellow countrywoman in two hours and 29 minutes, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4. However, this was not the finest performance from the world number one who needs to polish a lot of details before her third round match.

McHale stuns Williams in a thrilling tiebreak

It was not the right start for the top seed, started the match with a double fault. McHale came out on the court to play aggressive tennis, and it worked as she was the first one to get the break. Despite getting broken in the first game, Williams was able to get four break points on McHale’s serve, but the younger American kept her nerve and saved them all to eventually winning after Williams made a backhand unforced error, leading 2-0.

Williams was up 40-15 on her serve, but two unforced errors helped McHale to force a deuce, in which Williams suffered a slip trying to reach a ball. The world number one, saved one break point to then win the game after a missed return from her opponent. McHale then survived a tricky game to be up 3-1. Problems were not over for Williams who continued to struggle to hold her serve, this time, she had to save again two break points to stayed close behind McHale.

Williams got three break points, but McHale made her way back into the game, erasing all the break points and eventually holding to lead 4-2. For the first time in the set, Williams had an easy game of service, holding to love to be 3-4. The comeback was forming and the world number one confirmed it when she broke McHale in the following game to level things up to 4-4. Just as Williams was serving, it was announced there will be a rain delay while the roof was being closed. Serena Williams scored a hold to love after the delay, for the first time in the match she was up 5-4.

McHale saved a set point, but not only that the judge line had called a ball out which meant Williams should have won the set, but McHale challenged and showed the ball had been actually in. McHale then went on to hold to tie the score at 5-5. Winning her game of serve granted Williams the possibility to go to a tiebreak if McHale held her serve. And so she did, McHale held her serve to force a tiebreak.

Christina McHale reacts during her Ladies Singles second round match against Serena Williams on day five of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Serena Williams quickly lead 2-0, but a backhand unforced error helped McHale to win his first point in this tiebreak. An amazing forehand by Williams forced McHale to hit the ball into the net, but it was then Williams who did a double fault to help McHale. Williams roared after hitting a forehand winner and lead 4-2. Despite being a mini break down, McHale threw in a great serve that made Williams hit a long ball. But McHale was not giving up, she did a great return and then forced Williams to come to the net where she threw a long ball, Williams led 5-4.

Finally, McHale recovered the mini break after a long ball by Williams. It was McHale who managed to get the set point first in this tiebreak after a backhand unforced error by the top seed. However, it didn’t last long as Williams tied to 6-6 after a smash winner. A double-fault by Williams granted a second set point to McHale, but Williams saved it with a forehand winner to be 7-7 all. A failed and weak return gave McHale another set point, however, this time, Williams was unable to save it and handed the set to her opponent after missing a mid-court forehand into the net.

A powerful Williams forces the match into a decider

Both players exchange holds to start the set. This time, it was Williams who had the early break after a fantastic rally from both players, but Williams broke after hitting a cross-court backhand winner. Williams then held her serve easily to consolidate the break. After losing the first set, Williams stepped up her game and McHale began to make more mistakes which caused her to lose her serve again be down 1-4.

Now it was all Serena Williams as she again held her serve to lead 5-1 and be one game away from forcing this match to a deciding set. Still, McHale was not willing to give Williams another break and hold her serve but she still was two breaks down and Williams was about to serve for the second set. Despite McHale saved one set point, two straight unforced errors by McHale gifted the second set to Serena Williams.

Serena Williams o reacts during her second round match against Christina McHale on day five of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Williams comes back from a break down to take the match

McHale started with a hold, but then she would go on and break Williams early after an amazing exchange of volleys to lead 2-0. But consolidating the break was not easy for McHale who despite being up 40-15 lost her serve after hitting a double fault on break point. Williams then had a very solid hold to love to level things up at 2-2. Williams quickly trailed to a 0-40 lead on McHale serve, but three unforced errors brought McHale back into the game. The top seed fought to get another break back, but McHale closed the game with an ace to be up 3-2. A great game of serve from Williams tied things at 3-3. McHale then had to survive a long game of serve, in which the world number one had a chance to break but McHale won it with a forehand winner. She sealed this game with an ace to be up 4-3 and Williams did the same level things up 4-4.

On McHale served the point of the match was played an extraordinary 25 shots rally that McHale ended up winning after Williams hit a long ball. After saving one break point, McHale was not able to win her service and was broken after a backhand unforced error, giving not only the break to Williams but the chance to serve for the match. Williams won the match after hitting three aces in a row to defeat Christina McHale in two hours and 29 minutes, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4.

Next for Serena Williams

In the third round, Williams will have to face Germany’s Annika Beck. The German defeated Aliaksandra Sasnovich in straight sets to book her clash against Serena Williams. This will the first encounter between these players.

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About the author
Liliana Martinez
Sports Journalist from Mexico City